CIT – No Bailout for You

CIT Group Inc, a lender to hundreds of thousands of small and mid-sized U.S. businesses, said on Wednesday that bailout talks with the government had ended, a development that could ultimately drive the company into bankruptcy.

The announcement followed last-ditch talks in which Treasury officials had expressed concern about a worsening liquidity crunch at the 101-year old lender and indications that government aid would not put it on a path to recovery.

It also showed the possible limits of Washington’s ability and willingness to rescue companies, after multiple bailouts engineered by Treasury, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp for larger companies such as American International Group Inc and Citigroup Inc.

Lesson learned: If you don’t screw up royally, then no bailout for you from Uncle Sam.